Folkcraft FSH Series Dulcimers
Folkcraft is one of the two big US builders of mountain dulcimers, with McSpadden. It prides itself on always using sold woods in its handmade instruments. David and Melissa Marks started Folkcraft Instruments in Vermont in 1974, moving to Winsted, Connecticut in 1980. David was a music teacher on the look out for cheap, easy to learn instruments when he came across the mountain dulcimer. First he worked with students to build dulcimers, then set up on his own part-time, By 1975, the business was booming sufficiently for David to give up teaching. In 1989, Folkcraft bought the Rugg and Jackel FolkRoots business and took over its product line. Folkcraft was sold in 2007 and the workshop moved to Woodburn, Indiana.
Folkcraft’s popular FSH series dulcimers are effectively their intermediate range, made from solid wood with a neat but unfussy body design. They usually have a single-piece rather than bookmatched back and no overlay on fingerboard or tail like the CSH series.
2.255 1992 Folkcraft FSH 4 String 3 Course Hourglass £Sold
Printed label: “Handcrafted by:/ FOLKCRAFT/ INSTRUMENTS/ Winsted, CT 06098/ Model: FSH BW [h/w]/ Date: 9-06-92 [h/w].”
Classic solid walnut body with lighter, flecked butternut top (nice figure at head end). Weeping heart soundholes. Maple arched fingerboard with an attractive red-brown hardwood overlay. Trademark walnut hook scroll and pegbox with open-geared tuners and white plastic buttons. Copper pins towards the end of the fingerboard act as string anchors. Overall length 37¼”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 6½”, depth 1⅞“, FBW 1½“, VSL 26¾” (medium scale), weight 2lb 6oz (1087g), strings now 11/11, 14, 24w. Original 6+ but not 13+ frets.
Almost untouched with no signs of wear or damage. Softer walnut/butternut sound, but with some volume. Comes with original slip-style branded bag/case in good condition.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.208 1986 Folkcraft FSHCeW 4 String 3 Course Hourglass £Sold
Square label with black surround: “Handcrafted by:/ Folkcraft Instruments/ Winsted, CT 06098/ Model FSHCeW [h/w]/ Date 23 Oct 86 [h/w]”.
Classic Folkcraft design, quite shallow solid walnut body with single piece back; dark cedar top with dark flecks. Heart soundholes pointing to tail. Hook scroll with earlier routed edge; shallow pegbox with good open-geared tuners and white plastic buttons. Nicely figured, arched walnut, single piece fingerboard. Copper pins as string anchors, mounted on the end of the fingerboard. Original plastic nut and bridge have been replaced in a hard, white composite material, but has needed work to get action and intonation spot on. Mother of pearl marker on fret 3 only. Overall length 36½”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 6⅜”, depth 1¾“, FBW 1½“, VSL 26⅝” (medium scale), weight 2lb 1oz (926g). Currently fitted 11/11, 15, 24w strings. Original 6+ but not 13+ frets.
Now with good action and intonation, with pleasant tone and some volume. Very good condition generally, but a few marks on the vulnerable cedar top, including nearside longitudinal marks. The beginnings of wear on the lower frets, melody string side.
Click in images below to enlarge.
2.193 1996 Folkcraft FSHW 4 string, 3 course hourglass £Sold
Printed label: “Handcrafted by:/ Folkcraft/ Instruments/ Winsted CT 06098/ Model [h/w] FSHW – 2660/ Date [h/w] 5-3-96.”
Classic Folkcraft FSH body and trim, with a solid walnut top, sides and back (not bookmatched). Nicely grained walnut top has an elaborate set of leaf-heart soundhole designs. Sides also have an attractive walnut figure. Pretty dark walnut hook scroll with closed pegbox and vertical-shafted open geared tuners. Arched (or cantilever) walnut fingerboard (without overlay); 6+ but not 13+ fret; composite nut and bridge; copper pin string anchors (for loop or ball end strings).
Overall length 37”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 6¼”, depth 2”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 5oz (1054g). Complete with 6+ but not 13+ fret. Currently fitted with 11/11, 14, 24w strings.
Excellent condition for a 20 year old instrument, with only a few scuffs on the back. A good sound, with some volume, but also some warmth from the walnut construction. Ideal for a progressing beginner or intermediate player.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.108 1988 Folkcraft FSHW 4 String 3 Course 1988 Sold
Printed label: “Folkcraft Instruments/Winsted CT 06098/Model: FSHW 460 [h/w]/Date: 6-15-88 [h/w]”.
All solid walnut, one piece back and one piece arched fingerboard, standard scroll (with small rebate round edge) and heart soundholes; open-geared guitar-style tuners; 6+ fret (but no 13+) and pearl dot marker on 3rd fret only. Hard plastic nut and rounded (unslotted) bridge; usual copper pin string anchors for loop or ball end strings.
A pretty design with a good rounded sound. This comparatively early FSH has a little pick wear on upper frets/fingerboard, a few dings on the edges and a small (repaired) impact crack on the far side waist. The price reflects a very sound instrument with a few cosmetic shortcomings.
1.97 1993 Folkcraft FSHCh: 4 String 3 Course Hourglass. £Sold inc. original shell case
Printed label: “Handcrafted by:/ Folkcraft Instruments/ Winsted, CT 06098/ Model FSHCh [h/w]/ Date 1-22-93 [h/w].”
Neat, typical Folkcraft solid cherry body with cherry arched fingerboard and pegbox with trademark elephant-trunk scroll. Bookmatched cherry sides and top, with single-piece (non-bookmatched) cherry back. Pearl marker on fret 3; 6+ but not 13+ fret present. Hard white plastic nut and bridge. Copper pin string anchors for loop and ball end strings. Decent quality open geared tuners with ivory coloured buttons.
Overall length 36⅝”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 6⅜”, depth 2“, FBW 1½“, VSL 26⅞” (medium scale), weight 2lb 5oz (1054g). Currently fitted 11/11, 14, 22w strings. Original 6+ but not 13+ frets.
Very little wear at all on an immaculate body. Neat, classic design with a pleasant sound. Easy to play and ideal for both beginner and intermediate player.
